Jud Heathcote reunion to seize spotlight again for Spartans later this week

AP File PhotoJud Heathcote, right, pictured with his most famous player, Magic Johnson, has given Tom Izzo some insight on Gonzaga already.

EAST LANSING -- Tom Izzo has seen Gonzaga "a couple times, late night, on TV."

For his old boss, Jud Heathcote, watching Gonzaga doesn't require late nights. Nor does the former coach have any particular limitations in watching the No. 23 Bulldogs, who host Michigan State on Saturday night: Heathcote lives in Spokane, Wash., where Gonzaga is located.

Izzo planned to speak with the 84-year-old Heathcote before traveling west after Thursday's practice. He said he never wants to put the former coach "on the spot to try to give us a scouting report on anybody."

But Izzo said Heathcote already has volunteered some information.

"He's talked to me a little bit about Gonzaga already," Izzo said.

It has been less than 21 months since the Spartans played in Spokane, during the 2010 NCAA tournament, with Heathcote in attendance. But this will be different, playing the Bulldogs in their on-campus arena.

Izzo said he won't have any problems looking past tonight's game against Central Connecticut, with a big weekend game looming, for his team, himself, and the former boss who coached MSU for 19 seasons.

On the upside, he said, there are some cross-preparation advantages to the scheduling, Izzo said. Both teams play zone defenses and have excellent perimeter shooters.

"Upsets happen most with 3-point shooting and they've got a couple guys who can really light it up," Izzo said of tonight's game. "So we'll look at that. Fortunately, Gonzaga's got two or three guys that are really shooting well from the 3. So guarding the 3 will take on a new life this week."